Nietzsche and Political Theory

Nietzsche’s political views and what political theory, if any, is to be found in his writings are matters of enduring controversy. The workshop will have its main focus on two options with regard to seeing Nietzsche as a political thinker: Platonism in Nietzsche’s interests in the creation of higher humans, aristocratic virtues and elitist politics; liberalism (including democratic and republican approaches) of an individualistic type, critical of the state and majoritarianism, emphasising struggle and competition. 500 word abstracts for papers on these topics, or any aspect of the political interpretation of Nietzsche are welcome. A non-exhaustive list of other topics which could be taken up through an examination of Nietzsche’s texts include: Nietzsche’s relationship with the history of political theory, culture and politics, tragedy and the Greek state, the ‘good European’, the use of Nietzsche in Weber and Foucault, scepticism about the value of politics, German and European politics in the time of Nietzsche, mass society and the tyranny of the majority, the last man versus the overman, the friend and the neighbour, master and slave moralities, law and promise making.

A workshop of 12 papers is envisaged. Abstracts should be sent to both of the two convenors below. Authors of accepted abstracts will be asked to send a full length version of their paper to other participants a month before the workshop.